This fall, Marvel Comics will release Marvel’s Voices: Heritage #1, a special one-shot spotlighting Indigenous and First Nation creators and characters, including New York Times best-selling author Rebecca Roanhorse. A follow-up to last year’s Marvel’s Voices: Indigenous Voices, the book will be on sale in print and digital this November.
Last year, Marvel released Indigenous Voices, as part of its Marvel’s Voices line. Created to spotlight the wide array of diverse characters and creators that have made Marvel great, Marvel’s Voices are one-shot anthology titles featuring new stories from top creators. These books reach beyond the comic book field and bring in luminaries from other creative fields; last year’s Marvel's Voices: Indigenous Voices featured novelists Rebecca Roanhorse (Ohkay Owingeh) and Stephen Graham Jones (Blackfeet Nation) teamed up with artists such as David Cutler (Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation) and Kyle Charles (Whitefish Lake First Nation) to present all-new stories featuring Marvel’s Indigenous and First Nation characters.
In a press release, Marvel announced the follow-up, titled Marvel’s Voices: Heritage. Much like last year’s Indigenous Voices, Heritage brings together top creative voices from both in and out of the comics field “together for a series of short stories diving into the past, present and future of the Marvel Universe.” Heritage will also see creators from Indigenous Voices return, including Rebecca Roanhorse, whose story will explore River, a mysterious stranger with ties to Roanhorse’s Echo series. Snowguard, from Champions, will be featured in a story by Inuit filmmaker Nyla Innuksuk that will explore the character’s hopes and fears. David Cutler, also from last year’s special, will return as will Jim Terry (Ho-Chunk). The press release promised more talent would be announced in the months ahead. It was also revealed that Maria Wolf (Purepecha), who made her Marvel debut last year, will provide a line of variant covers featuring Marvel’s many Indigenous characters.
For the past two years, the Marvel’s Voices line has provided a platform for diverse voices, showcasing some of the best Black, Latino, Asian and LGBTQ + creators working today. Last year’s Indigenous Voices one-shot was ground-breaking, a celebration of Indigenous creators and characters. However, it is not enough to simply release a one-shot—there must be follow through, and a continued commitment to give diverse voices a platform; at the same time Indigenous Voices was released, Marvel released Werewolf by Night featuring Indigenous characters written and drawn by Indigenous creators.
Marvel Voices: Heritage reaffirms and strengthens this; there are new creators and characters involved—it is not simply a repeat of last year’s special. Fans can stay tuned for more information on which creators and characters will be featured in Marvel Comics' latest celebration of diversity as the publication date for Marvel's Voices: Heritage #1 draws nearer.
Source: Marvel Comics